Tube closure device



Jan. 18, 1938. J, ROMEIS 2,105,615

TUBE CLOSURE DEVICE Filed July 22, 1956 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFlCliE 6 Claims.

This invention pertains to paste tubes and particularly to means for closing them without the use of a screw cap.

By the elimination of the screw cap, the necessity of removing and replacing same is eliminated as Well as the inconvenience caused by looking for a cap which has been dropped. As a result, greater speed in dispensing the contents of the tube is accomplished.

10 It is an object of my invention then to provide an e'fii'cient closure means to insure rapid dispensing of the ,contents of the tube.

Another object is to provide dispensing means which permits of a perfect ribbon of contents to be extruded.

Still another objectof my invention is to insure a perfect cut off of the ribbonwhich will leave the dispensing end clean and sanitary;

A further object of my invention is to :make the closure and dispensing member out of .a :single piece ofmater ial.

A still further object is :to provide a device that is capable of easy insertion, secure, yet when-it is 'in place, is impossible of accidental removal.

With these and various -other:objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel fea- "tures of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

7 In the drawing, which illustrates anembodi- 'ment of :the device, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts,-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a-paste tube showing my novel dispensing device, this view'being taken'on theline ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. '3is'a fragmentary sectional view taken on the lin'e33 of-Fig. 1.

4 Fig. lisa planview of the blankfrom which :50 portion M is shown to be :of square formation although it does not necessarily need to be ofthis shape or configuration. In the neck portion !4 is formediargroovelt in the increased portion is. 'I he material on thisside of the tube,- curving up .tion extending downwardly therefrom. A flanged portion 42 is formed by bending the protruding wardly, as at to form a surface 22, the purpose of which will later be described.

At the opposite side of the increased portion lit the wall of the neck portion M is of practically the same thickness as the main wall of the tube. .5 The other two sides 24 and 26 of this square neck portion are also of increased formation, communicating around the inner periphery with the increased portion I 8, Formed within this thickness are two grooves 28 and 30 running parallel 0 with the two sides 24 and 2.6, and communicating with the first named groove i6. Anarrow shaped flange 32 is formed out of the material of the tube neck above the groove iii for purposes to be later described. 5

The construction shown in Fig. 4 .will be called the spring door unit 34. The tube may be stamped in the same fashion as all standard tubes are stamped. -The spring door unit is made of spring steel .00l5-.002 and .003 in thickness which may be stamped and folded in a .pro-

:gressive die, ready to be inserted into the top of end 44 of the door portion -36 at right angle thereto. Projections 46 and 58 are formed from the apron portions 38 and 40.

This unit may then be inserted into .place in 30 the neck portion I4 of the tube. The projections 46 and 48 are inserted into the groove 16 while the edges 50 and 52, of the apron portions 38 and 4,0, are positioned within the grooves 28 and 30. The flanged portion 42 is then pressed into place against the wall54, the topv of edge 56 of the flanged portion 42 nestling under the flange 32, thus securing the entire unit against movement withinthe tube. Additional bearing surface is provided-by having the under side of the door seat uponthe aforementioned surface 22. The forward edge 58 of the door is then caused to springingly bear against the edge '56 of the wall opposite the wall edge having the arrow shaped flange 32'formed thereon. In the modification shown in Fig. '7, a saw tooth edge 62 is formed to additionally insure perfect gripping of the flange 32. The material may be bent inwardly as at 53 to enable it to bite into the tube if no flange is used.

In the use of the device, pressure is exerted against the main walls of the container thus forcing the paste out through the large opening in the neck of the tube Where it will be diverted along the under surface of the door to the point where the top edge 58 of the door comes in contact with the edge 60 of the neck portion on that side. Because of the springy nature of the material of the door, and because of the manner in which the whole unit is secured within the tube neck portion, the contents of the tube will be forced out of the tube in a narrow ribbon, uniform as to thickness and even throughout the desired length. Upon dispensing the required length, pressure is stopped and the paste ribbon is out off sharply, leaving no paste at the mouth of the tube. The aprons extending from the door prohibit any of the contents of the tube from coming out at any other place than the mouth of the tube. It is to be noticed that the arrow shaped flange points in the direction of the dispensing side of the tube neck.

It is obvious that in the manufacture of paste tubes, there is an important item in the cost thereof, that is, the cutting of threads and also the labor cost of screwing the cap into place. This threading cost may be eliminated by the use of my device and time will be saved in slipping my door unit into place as compared with screwing the cap on the usual type of container.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A closure device for pressure operated containers having a flexible wall of resilient material, a dispensing end comprising a square opening formed in the neck of said container, the top of said neck being cut off obliquely, an increased material portion formed on one side adjacent the lower inner face and curving upwardlyan appreciable distance centrally of the neck opening, a flat bearing surface formed on the top of this material at an angle of approximately 45, a horizontal groove formed at the junction of the inner periphery of said neck and said increased material portion, vertical parallel grooves formed in the material on the adjoining sides of said first mentioned side and communicating with said first named groove, a spring door unit positioned in the opening in said container neck, including a spring door plate, apron portions extending downwardly on two sides thereof, a flange curved upwardly of one end of said door plate and at approximately right angles thereto, projections formed on one end of each apron portion and adjacent said upwardly extending flange, the opposite end of said door plate adapted to springingly engage the top edge of the higher side of the neck portion, said bearing surface adapted to support the spring door plate.

2. A closure device for pressure operated containers having a flexible wall of resilient material, a dispensing end comprising a square opening formed in the neck of said container, the top of said neck being out off obliquely, an increased material portion formed on one side adjacent the lower inner face and curving upwardly an appreciable distance centrally of the neck opening, a flat bearing surface formed on the top of this material at an angle of approximately 45, a horizontal groove formed at the junction of the inner periphery of said neck and said increased material portion, vertical parallel grooves formed in the material on the adjoining sides of said first mentioned side and communicating with said first named groove, a spring door unit p0sltioned in the opening in said container neck, including a spring door plate, apron portions extending downwardly on two sides thereof, a flange curved upwardly of one end of said door plate and at approximately right angles thereto, projections formed on one end of each apron portion and adjacent said upwardly extending flange, the opposite end of said door plate adapted to spring ingly engage the top edge of the higher side of the neck portion, said bearing surface adapted tosupport the spring door plate, means for securing said spring door unit within said opening including'said projections adapted to engage said horizontal groove, said apron portions adapted to' engage said vertical parallel grooves, a flange formed adjacent the top on one side of said? neck portion adapted to retain the top edge of the upwardly extending flange.

3. A closure device for pressure operated con. tainers having a flexible wall of resilient mate-- rial, a dispensing end comprising a square open-' ing formed in the neck of said container, the top of said neck being cut off obliquely, an increased material portion formed on one side adjacent the lower inner face and curving upwardly an appreciable distance centrally of the neck opening, a flat bearing surface'formed on the top of this material at an angle of approximately 45, a horizontal groove formed at the junction of the inner periphery of said neckan'd said increased material portion, vertical parallel grooves formed in the material on the adjoining sides of said first mentioned side and communicating with said first named groove, a spring door unit positioned in the opening in said container neck, including a spring door plate, apron portions extending downwardly on two sides thereof ,a flange curved upwardly of one end of said door plate and at approximately right angles thereto, projections formed on one end of each apron portion and adjacent said upwardly extending flange, the opposite end of said door plate adapted to springingly engage the top edge of the higher side of the neck portion, said bearing surface adapted tosupport the spring door plate, means for securing said spring door unit within said opening including said projections adapted to engage said vertical parallel grooves, a flange formed adjacent the top onone side of said neck a portion adapted to retain the top edge of the upwardly extending flange, means for indicating the dispensing side of the container neck portion including said top neck flange which is formed in the shape of an arrow and extending inwardly of the center of said opening.

4. A closure device for pressure operated containers having a flexible wall of resilient material, a dispensing end comprising a square opening formed in the neck of said container, the

top of said neck being cut off obliquely, an increased material portion formed on one side adjacent the lower inner face and curving upwardly an appreciable distance centrally of the neck opening, a flat bearing surface formed on the top of this material at an angle of approximately 45, a horizontal groove formed at the junction of the inner periphery of said neck and said increased material portion,

sides of said first mentioned side and communicating with said first named groove, a spring door unit positioned in the opening in said container neck, including a spring door plate, apron vertical parallel grooves formed in the material on the adjoining" portions extending downwardly on two sides thereof, a flange curved upwardly of one end of said door plate and at approximately right angles thereto, projections formed on one end of each apron portion and adjacent said upwardly extending flange, the opposite end of said door plate adapted to springingly engage the top edge of the higher side of the neck portion, said bearing surface adapted to support the spring door plate, means for securing said spring door unit within said opening including said projections adapted to engage said horizontal groove, said apron portions adapted to engage said vertical parallel grooves, a flange formed adjacent the top on one sideof said neck portion adapted to retain the top edge of the upwardly extending flange, means for closing the dispensing outlet of the container including the spring door plate for tensionally engaging the dispensing side of the neck wall portion when pressure is not being exerted.

5. In combination with a pressure operated container having a flexible wall of resilient material, a discharge opening, means for tensionally closing said discharge opening including a spring door unit seated within the discharge opening, said spring door unit including a spring door plate having apron portions extending downwardly on two sides, an upwardly extending flange at one end of said plate and projections formed on the ends of each apron portion adjacent the upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange, door plate and projections adapted to be snugly received within said discharge opening, means for indicating the discharge side of said discharge opening comprising a flange formed in the top of the container and extending inwardly of said opening in the direction of the discharge side.

6. In combination with a pressure operated container having a flexible wall of resilient material, a discharge opening, means for tensionally closing said discharge opening including a spring door unit seated within the discharge opening, said spring door unit including a spring door plate having apron portions extending downwardly on two sides, an upwardly extending flange at one end of said plate and projections formed on the ends of each apron portion adjacent the upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange, door plate and projections adapted to be snugly received within said discharge opening, means for securing said upwardly extending flange against movement including a flange extending inwardly of said dis-' charge opening and adapted to snugly receive said upwardly extending flange.

ARTHUR J. ROMEIS. 

